Canine Reproduction: The Breeder's Guide

This is the definitive guide to breeding, whelping and raising puppies, now completely updated. Expert topics include: canine reproductive anatomy, understanding hormones, breeding behavior and management, caring for the pregnant bitch, whelping, pediatric care of newborns, resolving reproductive problems

The author has always thought of herself as a late bloomer when it came to finding a career for herself—that special niche which every person must find for his/her life. Her interest in purebred dogs and career in veterinary medicine developed at about the same time, several years after graduating from college with a degree in Botany and French.

Her first gainful employment after college was as a histologic technician at the Collaborative Radiological Health Laboratory, Colorado State University. The lab was a major research center studying the ling-term effects of low-level irradiation on Beagles. Part one of the project was being undertaken at the time: to study prenatal development in the dogs so that the organism being irradiated could be better understood. The director of the lab, Dr. Robert Phemister, was especially interested in the reproductive research, and under his leadership, Phyllis became more involved in research, growing gradually away from the histopathology lab.

A master’s degree came as a natural outgrowth of the research, and her master’s thesis was a study of the development of the Beagle embryo from conception to implantation—work that had not been done in a complete way before. The thesis, along with several other studies, was published and is now a permanent part of the literature. The time of ovulation and its relation to LH levels and to vaginal cytology were important parts of the research being done at that time. Recognizing the onset of diestrus and its relationship to other important reproduction processes is probably the single most important knowledge to have come from the research. Shelly came into the author’s life shortly after Phyllis settled into a career. Shelly was supposed to e a Sheltie but immediately proved to be of somewhat mixed heritage, She was enough like a Sheltie, though, that it was not long before a show quality Sheltie bitch joined the family. Jolee was the foundation for Sarabande Shelties, and as a first dog could not have been more ideal. She won eight championship points and CDX under the handling of her novice owner. She provided the opportunity to become involved in showing and breeding digs, which has continued to be a most enjoyable hobby. The sixth generation of Sarebande Shelties now lives happily with the author. Two have completed championships, several others are pointed, and many have finished obedience titles.

Her interest in dogs as a hobby, and dogs as a career in research, eventually led Phyllis into veterinary school. It seemed to be a natural extension of both interests. She graduated from Colorado State University in 1977 and has been in small animal practice since that time. Reproductive problems and breeding management have continued to be her specialty.

Phyllis participated as a lecturer at the Colorado State University short course for breeders and veterinarians on canine reproduction during the two years it was presented. Most recently, she contributed a chapter on vaginal cytology to the second edition of Current Therapy in Therioginology (W.B. Saunders Co.)